Part time jobs in Germany

In Germany, a full day job is defined as 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, but students are only permitted to work 2.5 full days per week during the semester. This restriction can be surpassed during the semester and over the summer break. However, international students should keep the annual cost of living in Germany, which is around €850 (~74,000 INR) per month.

The minimum wage in Germany is roughly EUR 9.82 per hour. Higher-skilled student occupations may pay between EUR 11 to 20 per hour. Moreover, mandated internships are part of some of the institutions in Germany that are exempt from the 120-day rule.

While studying abroad has many perks, the cost incurred to live and study in Germany is relatively high. However, there are plenty of options for part-time jobs in Germany for international students.

Why Germany?

Part-time jobs usually help out most of the international students in Germany. As discussed before, the Majority of International students choose Germany to be their top-notch choice for higher studies because of the high-quality education, affordability, and easy way of finding Part-time Jobs.

• International students from other countries are allowed to work 120 full days or 240 half days per year.
• You can earn up to 450 euros a month on a student job without paying taxes. But if you regularly earn more than 450 euros, you need a tax number.
• Students who intend to work more than part-time must obtain approval from the Federal Employment Agency and foreigners' office. Whether or not they are granted permission is determined by the state of the labour market.

Part-time Work Rules in Germany for Students

International students looking for part-time jobs in Germany have a variety of options to choose from. But, there are various rules and regulations set by the government for students who work part-time, and these rules will have to be followed by all the international students very strictly. Below are the important rules and regulations which are to be followed:

1. All International students every year are only allowed to work for a total of 120 full or 240 half days. This usually depends on various factors such as the location which has a high or low chance of receiving employment.
2. If international students are working as academic assistants or advisors, then their hours of working will be unrestricted. But those students must notify the foreigner’s office that they’re doing it.
3. Work licenses are usually required by the Agentur für Arbeit or the Authorities from all the International students. This permission contains all the information regarding a maximum work limit that the student has respectively.
4. If International Students are only working for 50 days in a year or even fewer than 50 days then they will automatically be exempted from paying any Taxes.
5. All International Students can work for 20 hours per week as well but it is not at all recommended at all as it will violate all the norms of most German Universities which will result in paying health and nursing care insurance along with unemployment insurance.
6. Federal laws set by the government must be followed by all International students. Students who don’t follow these laws or disobey them will result in strict legal action.
7. If an International student is working at a university it will focus on a much different approach when it comes to the hours of working and the salaries received.
8. If an International student is interested in doing an internship during the semester break it will technically fall under normal work. Each day of the respective internship will be deducted from the 120-day annual allowance which is permanently set.
9. International students are strictly not advised to be involved in Freelancing and they should not be self-employed as well.
10. International Students who are undertaking a preparatory course or a language course are advised to work only during the free periods with a permission letter from the Federal Employment Agency and the Immigration Office.

How can overseas students obtain part-time jobs in Germany?

There are lots of options for all the international students who are looking to work part-time in Germany. There are several possibilities for students in Germany who are looking for work to learn about the various job descriptions. Below are a few:

1. University Career Centers: One major way to find a job is through University Career Centers. The majority of the universities in Germany have dedicated career centers whose main motive is to connect both companies and students. These career centers are usually in frequent contact with a variety of companies that require employees.
2. Job advertising: Job advertising is usually displayed by both recruiters and employers which include both online and offline media.
3. Online job portals: For students looking for part-time work in Germany, Online job portals are to look out for. Employers from various companies and organizations regularly publish a variety of job opening positions mainly through online portals. Students will discover a variety of jobs published in various work sectors.
4. Bulletin of the University: International Students usually discover a variety of part-time jobs options in the University itself, depending on factors like location and the availability of positions. A couple of part-time jobs may be available very easily depending on the student’s knowledge and abilities.

Type of Part-time Jobs in Germany

On-Campus Jobs for Students

On-campus jobs with good compensation are available for research scholars. The following is a list of on-campus part-time jobs available in German universities:

Off-Campus Jobs for Students

Although the salary may not be higher or even basic for off campus jobs, these professions allow students to tour the city and meet new people. The following is a list of off-campus part-time jobs available in German universities:

Also Check: Jobs in Germany

Pay-Scale and Taxes for International Students in Germany

• In Germany, the current minimum pay per hour for all part-time jobs is EUR 9.60 per hour, which could increase to EUR 12 per hour in 2022. This is usually sufficient for an international student to live and carry out all their required expenses in Germany or sometimes can be used as extra pocket money.
• If an international student's monthly earnings are less than EUR 450, they are not to pay taxes at all. If the Students make more than EUR 450 per month usually will require a tax number which will result in the taxes being cut from the student’s salary. But they will be able to receive the deducted amount by the end of the year only if they file a tax return.
• It is usually common to work part-time or full-time in Germany. But students should not rely or depend upon the money they earn from these part-time jobs. As pointed earlier, International students are only allowed to work for a limited time. Usually, the money earned from these jobs is only required for paying your bills, living costs, etc, and not for paying for your entire education.
• If an International student is employed in Germany permanently then they are usually required to pay social security contributions. These social security contributions include contributions for Long term care, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and pension, etc. Those who don’t work longer than two months or 50 days annually in a row are exempted from making these payments.

Part-time jobs are usually very much beneficial for all the International students traveling to Germany since it allows them to earn extra income as well as grow their knowledge. Working while studying in Germany proves that you can manage your time well, and work hard.

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